The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-10-19
happy. If by chance have saved
your life, l am too much honored and

favored"
Never was such an organ grinder"
thought pretty Miss Parker Then, as
she looked down from her perch, while
Mortimer led her horse by the bride,
she saw the organ lying the road
as it hurt-your organ?" she asked
again in the Italian language as
spoken at Miss QIimby's school. And
Mr. Mortimer. all unconscious of her
opinion of his social position, inter-
rupted her in the same language as
taught by Prof. Sprachemall.
"That is my affair, Signorina.
"How proud he is" thought Miss
Parker, and her heart tluttered as she
alighted at the gate and servant
hurried up.
THANK you again and again." she
repeated.
THANK you for the thanks" sighed
Mortimer, bending over her hand; and
so they parted-Mortimer to meet the
Italian and deliver up the organ.
At tea time Mortimer made many
inquiries as to Il young italian lady
who drove spirited horse, but his
landlady declared she didn't know
any foreigners that had a horse, and
she didn't believe but them poor
Eyetalans on the railroad was all
bachelors, for she had seen 'em mend
ing their own stockings outside the
shanties many time"
However. he could not forget the
pretty face and gentle voice, and
found himself singing "some Day"
with expression as he wandered about
in the moonlight. And he got down
his Italian books and brushed
up his knowledge of that Ian
guage, and looked often along
the lane for the red and gold cart,
but did not see it, for the good reason
that Mr.. Parker had informed his
daughter that he thought she was only
going to make a fool of herself in that
joggle-box; but if she was going to
risk her life, that was another thing,
and had condemned her to the family
carriage and the safe driving of old
Casper Wumps, the family coachman,
who never drove down the narrow side
lane.
So, for many days, Mortimer saw no
more of his charmer, while the pretty
Miss Parker hardly knew whether she
was wretched or happy when she
thought what q wonderful romance
had come into her life; for she owned
to herself thai she atlored that tex
quisite organ grinder. who certain
ly was a prince in reduced circum-
stances.
At last they met 1t was in this
way. Mortimer was fishing and Miss
Parker was taking walk. She
bent her steps toward the little cove
where he had established himself, and
they met faco to face. His fishing-rod
dropped out of his hand; her book fell
from hers.
my gallant preserver!" she cried,
in Italian. ''Oa, Signor! is it posi-
ble?''
And he answered. In Italian also:
"Signorina, this is the happiest day
of my life."
And so they began to meet and make
love to each other in q foreign Ian
guage Miss Parker felt sure that her
father would not welcome an organ
grinder as q guest. und did not ask
him to call. Mortimer on his part,
fished for an invitation rs he had never
fished for trout. He was a gentleman,
and he felt that, having given his heart
to a young lady, he ought to know her
parents and pay his addresses proper
ly. AS for Miss Parker she was ute
ready to elope whenever he proposed
it, and to hold the tamborine for pen
MES while he played the organ over
the whole world; but she was not equal
to introducing her papa. General Per-
rywinkle Parker, TO an organ grinder,
however charming.
II wish she knew little English.
could explain BETTER" thought Morti-
mer Il wonder why she don't say.
Call. l expect something unpleasant
will come of this.
Something did.
One afternoon, about twilight, as
the big tea bell was ringing violently !
on the clearinghouse lawn for the
benefit of wandering boarders, Morti-
mer and Miss Parker sat by the trout
stream upon some rather damp but |
very messy rocks.
His arm was about her waist, her
head on his shoulder, and he had
called her ''Carissima," and BELLA
Carissima" several times, when an
avalanche rolled down the hill upon
them. That was the effect 1t was.
however, only the portly person of
General Jobkins Perrywinkle Parker,
who had come upon them suddenly.
and slipped in rushing down the slope.
They broke his fall, and were not quite
crushed flat, but when he was picked
up and had become himself again he
began to use language his favorite
preacher would not have liked to hear
him use, and inquired, IN the pauses,
what his daughter meant by this, and
who this rascal was"
Mortimer, quite conscious that he
deserved this, was feeling his pockets
for a card, and finding none: and won